Washing-machine.



J. F. LESTER.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ. 1915.

1,l?2,29 Peeented Feb. 22,1916.

i IIIIIII ATTORNEYS ED s'rTEs orion.

JAMES F. LESTER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR '.IEOv RICHARD MEBRIFIELD, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application led August 7, 11915. Serial No. 44,195.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. LESTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to washing machlnes of the cylinder type and has for its principal object to provide a mechanism by which a more intense agitation of and cleanslng action upon the fabrics being washed 1s attained than bythe use of the ordinary machine of this type.

Other objects will be particularly pointed out or will otherwise appear 1n connection with the following description of the embodiment of my invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a vertical axial section o f a cylinder type washing machine containing my invention,and Fig. 2 is a cross sectlon thereof on the line 2*-2 of Fig. 1.

The apparatus. illustrated consists of a suitably supported cylindrical casing or container 3 provided with alined, central bearings at its ends in which the journals 4 of the perforated cylinder or drum 5 are adapt-y ed to rotate. rlhis drum has end walls to which the journals 4 are rigidly attached, and peripheral rods connected to and extending between said walls, the diameter of said walls and the perforated body portion of the drum formed by said rods being somewhat less than the internal diameter of the casing 3 so that a space is formed between the drum and casing whereby the drum may freely rotate within said casing. r1`he casing and the drum are provided with suitable doors 6 and 'l' respectively so that access may j be had to the interior of the drum when gearing 13 connected by suitable gearing so as to drive the horizontal shaft 24; upon this shaft are loosely mounted bevel gears meshing with diametrically opposite sides of the gear 25 fixed upon the journal 4, and suitable clutch mechanism is provided whereby the bevel gears are alternately caused to be driven bythe shaft 24, thus rotating the gear 25 and with it the cylinder 5 first in one direction and then in the other direction.

Mounted upon the casing 3 is a condenser 9 and above the condenser 1s mounted a suitable vacuum producing device, such as the centrifugal pump 10, the inlet pipe 11 for which pump passes through the condenser and communicates with the space above the drum and between it and the casing and the discharge orifice 12 of which pump communicates with the atmosphere. The pump 10 may be driven in any suitable manner, as for example by the motor 8. The condenser 9 is provided with an inlet pipe 14 and an outlet pipe 15 for causing a ^ooling fluid, such as water, to circulate through the condenser and cool the vacuum pump inlet pipe 11.

Within the casing near the bottom thereof and between said casing and the rotary drum is a longitudinally extending pipe 16 providedwith distributing branches 17, these branches being in turn provided with a plurality of apertures. rThe longitudinal pipe 16 is connected with a pipe 18 which extends through Ithe bottom of the casing and then, externally of the casing, to a point beyond the end thereof where it rises to a level above the normal level of the cleaning solution in the casing. Slightly above this level the pipe 18 is connected with a branch pipe 19 which is provided with a valve 20 and communicates beyond this vali/e with the atmosphere. rEhe pipe 18 may extend in any suitable way beyond the branch pipe 19 and is provided beyond the branch pipe with a valve 21; this extension of the pipe 18 may, if desired, communicate with a heated water supply system so that said pipe may be employed for introducing water into the casing. A suitable valved drain conduit 22 is also provided for the casing.

Extending longitudinally and secured to the interior of the casing below the normal water level thereof are baffles 23, one being located on one side of the center of the casing and the other, preferably at an equal distance from and on the other side of said center. These baffles 23 preferably extend the full length of the casing and areeach composed of a rigid portion firmly secured to the casing and a flexible portion which may be a rubber strip, one edge of which is firmly secured to the rigid portion'and the other edge of which extends toward and is substantially in contact with the periphery of the body portion. of the drum 5. The baiiles thus extend substantially completely across thespace between the drum and the casing.

, In the operation of the device, the drum may be rotated so that the door 7 thereof registers with the casing door 6. Both doors may be opened and the fabrics to be washed, together with soap or other cleansing agent, may be introduced into the drum. The fabrics, if desired, may b contained in a net. The doors may now be closed and fastened in closed position. If desired hot v water may be introduced through the casing door opening before it has been closed. Or the hot Water mav be introduced through the pipes 18, 16 and 17, the valve 21 being open and the valve 20 being closed. When suilicient washing solution has been' provided the valve 21 is closed and the nvalve 20 is opened to the desired degree. The driving motor is now started and the drum is caused to rotate back and forth in the usual manner. The starting of the motor 12 which may also serve as the driving mqtor, causes the vacuum pump 10 to operate so as to tend to produce a vacuum in the machine above the solution therein. This vacuum will ultimately cause air to be drawn through the pipes 18 and 16 and to emerge from the apertures in the distribution pipes 17, the casing, of course, being fluid tight. Upon emerging from the apertures the air will rise in bubbles through the water and clothes interstices and will ultimately enter the vacuum pipe 11 and the pump 10 and be discharged therefrom through the orifice l2 into the atmosphere. The washing solution being at boiling temperature, or nearly so, will give olii' condensable vapors or gases such as steam, and this steam is condensed in the vacuum pipe, because the latter is maintained cool by the condenser, and the condensed steam drips back into the casing. The maintenance of the vacuum therefore does not result in an' appreciable removal of water from the a'pparatus.

The baille: are of importance in prevent- ,tact with the ascending air currents.

its contents on their way to the surface.l

The valuable function of these bailles will readily be appreciated if the fact is borne in mind that vthe fabrics in the drum are carried alternatelysomewhat up the sides and it's contents Will set up swirls or cur,

rents in the water which will tend to draw the air bubbles through such a path. The provision of the bail'les effectually pievents such escape of air and insures that all of it will penetrate the drum and the fabrics therein.

The passage of the air bubbles produces a violent agitation of the clothes and this agitation is communicated continuously to new portions thereof because the drum rotation continuously turns over the clothes and brings different portions thereof into con- The eii'ect of this additional violent agitation 'is that the clothes are Washed more quickly and thoroughly than has been possible heretofore by drum rotation only; furthermore the forcing of the air through the fabric interstices will drive out the solution held therein, and the dirt with it, and will in addition create strong currents in the solution which will pass through the fabric and in themselves produce a cleansing action which would not be had if air were not bubbled through the liquid. Any method for producing these air bubbles may be employed but I prefer the vacuum method described for the reason principally that it insures a greater ebullition effect.

I claim:

A1. A washingy machine comprising a casing adapted to contain a washing solution, a perforated cylinder rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said cylinder, means for producing a vacuum in the upper part of said casing above the level of the washing solution, means for admitting fresh air at atmospheric pressure into said casing below the said cylinder, and baille means below the solution level for causing substantially all of said air to pass into the cylinder through the perforations thereof.` 2. A washing machine comprising a casing adapted to contain a washing solution, a perforated cylinder rotatably mounted in said casing, there being a space between the periphery of the cylinder and the inner surface of the casing, means for rotating said cylinder, means for producing a vacuum in the upper part of said casing above the level of the washing solution, means for "admitting fresh air at atmospheric pressure into vof the drum during the reverse rotations rigid portion and the other edge thereof besaid casing below the said cylinder, and baiie means extending substantially completely across the above mentioned space below the solution level for causing substantially all of said air to pass into the cylinder through the perforations thereof.

3. A washing machine comprising a casing adapted to contain a washing solution, a perforated cylinder rotatably mounted in said casing, there being a space between the periphery of thecylinder and the inner surface of the casing, means for rotating said cylinder, means for producing a vacuum lin the upper part of said casing above the level of the washing solution, means for admit- Ating fresh air at atmospheric pressure into said casing below the said cylinder, and baille means extending substantially completely across the above mentioned space below the solution level for causing substantially all of said air to pass into the cylinder through the perforations thereof, said baille means comprising a rigid longitudinally extending portion secured to the casing and a flexible portion, one edge of said flexible portion being secured to said ing in substantial contact with the periphery of said drum.

4. A washing machine comprising a cas"-V ing adapted to contain a washing solution,

a perforated cylinder rotatably `mountedl in said casing, there being a space between the periphery of the cylinder and the. inner surface of the casing,y means for rotatingl said cylinder, means fofrvcausing fresh air at atmospheric" pressure to pass upwardlyA my handthrough the cylinder, and baille means extending substantially completely across the above mentioned space below the solution level whereby the passage of the air through said space is prevented.

5. A. washing machine comprising a casing adapted to contain a washing solution,

a perforated cylinder rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said cylinder, means for producing a vacuum in the upper part of said casing above the level of the washing solution,a condenser for cooling a part of said vacuum producing means whereby the escape of condensable vapors is prevented, and means for admitting fresh air at atmospheric pressure into said casing below the said cylinder.

6. A washing machine comprising a casing .adapted to contain a washing solution, a perforated cylinder rotatably mounted in said casilngfmeans for reversibly rotating said fcyllnder, means for producing a vacuum in the upper part of said casing above the level of the washing solution, a condenser for coolinga part of said vacuum producingY means whereby the escape of condensable vapors is prevented, and means for admitting fresh air at atmospheric pressure into said casing below the said cylinder and 'baffle means below the solution level for causing substantially all of said air to pass into the cylinder through the perforations thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set JAMES F. LESTER. 

